Comparison of Windows PowerShell Vs Command Prompt

Starting from Windows 7 through Windows 10, Microsoft
supplied both Windows Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell options. They are
two command line interfaces that help users to interact directly with the operating
system. You can use most of the DOS commands in the command line interface.

Windows PowerShell Vs Command Prompt

The presence of these two command shells can be confusing for most of the Windows users. Interestingly, the PowerShell and Command Prompt have similar appearance and most of their commands are just the same. This article aims to draw a clear line between the two tools, as well as discuss which overrides the other.

Command Prompt Vs Windows PowerShell

What is Windows Command Prompt?

Windows Command Prompt (or shortly cmd) is
command shell based on the 1980 MS-DOS operating system. It has been present in
Microsoft OS starting with Windows NT onwards. It is simply a Win32 application
that helps users to interact with the operating system using text-based
instructions (commands) and parameters.

Users rely on CMD capability for interacting
with all other Win32 objects and applications. It helps to complete various
tasks in Windows like:

Though widely used to perform the above and more
tasks, Command Prompt interface has certain limitations.

It
cannot access most of the Windows system administration elements.

It is
not ideal for creating complex scripts among other shortcomings.

What is Windows PowerShell?

The Windows PowerShell is both a command shell
and a scripting language that offers deeper integration with Windows OS. It is
based on Microsoft’s .Net framework, enabling access to various pre-existing
tools and functions. You can create better commands and complex scripts
effortlessly using PowerShell.

It uses text-based commands known as cmdlets and C# programming language, helping the user to manage the Windows infrastructure more effectively. Simply put, the PowerShell combines Command Prompt functionality with a powerful scripting environment for easy system administration.

Windows PowerShell

Over and above executing tasks similar to
Command Prompt, the PowerShell enables users and system administrators to do
the followings.

When you right click on Start button or press
“Win + X” keys Windows will either show Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell
related options. You can change the settings to choose which option you want to
show in the menu.

Comparison between PowerShell and Command Prompt

Though you can do most of the Command
Prompt functions on Windows PowerShell, they are not the same. Here are some of
the differences between the two interfaces.

While Cmd uses DOS commands, the PowerShell uses commands known as cmdlets, which are independent programming objects that allow access to core administration options in Windows. These options are not accessible from the Cmd meaning users have to navigate the GUI to access them.

Cmd is just a shell system, which limits users to do only simple and basic scripts for the batch file execution. However, PowerShell is both a shell and a scripting environment that supports the creation of large and complex files for managing the Windows system.

The Command Prompt was not designed for system administration and users require extra utilities to extend its functionality. On the contrary, Windows PowerShell has many cmdlets that simplify life for system administrators. It enables a wide range of task execution and automation including users and permissions management, security configurations, data extraction, and Active Directory administration.

Another interesting PowerShell feature that lacks in Cmd is “Aliases”. This is a very critical function that allow users to configure custom names for different scripts or cmdlets. PowerShell uses Aliases to interpret old DOS commands and run them as PowerShell cmdlets. For instance, the alias for ‘cd’ (DOS) is ‘Set-Location’ (cmdlet).

PowerShell also supports pipes (similar to variables) that enable chaining several cmdlets and sharing of I/O data with other cmdlets. This feature enables users to develop complex scripts that can pass parameters for use in another cmdlet.

Moreover, PowerShell provides other advanced features including:

Windows PowerShell ISE – An interactive scripting environment that helps in the management of PowerShell scripts.

PowerShell or Command Prompt, Which is the Way Forward?

If you only rely on Cmd to execute basic
commands such as sfc, ipconfig and the like, it is still a
convenient tool. For system admins and power users, who need to run complex
tasks or managing remote systems, then PowerShell is the way to go. It saves
time for system administrators by allowing access to deeper system task
automation. However, it is advisable for Windows users to start familiarizing
with the latter, especially after Microsoft made the default shell for Windows
10. Besides, PowerShell is superior to the old Cmd as it provides all the Cmd
capabilities and more.

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